Midnight Rainbow

by Linda Howard

  Now it was her turn to fall silent. The intimacy that had been forged between them had made her forget that he was a warrior first, and her lover second. Despite the gentle passion with which he made love to her, he was still the same man who had knocked her out and thrown her over his shoulder, carrying her away into the jungle. She hadn’t held a grudge against him for that, after the reception she’d given him, but this was something else entirely. She felt as if he were forcibly reminding her of the original basis of their relationship, making her acknowledge that their physical intimacy had not made her an equal in his eyes. It was as if he’d used her body, since she had so willingly offered it, but saw no reason to let that give her any influence over him.

  Jane turned away from him, fumbling with her shirt and finally getting it straight. She wouldn’t let him see any hint of hurt in her eyes; she’d known that the love she felt was completely one-sided.

  His hand shot out and pulled the shirt away from her. Startled, she looked at him. “I have to get dressed. You said we need to—”

  “I know what I said,” he growled, easing her down onto the blanket. The lure of her soft body, the knowledge that he’d hurt her and her characteristic chin-up attempt to keep him from seeing it, all made it impossible for him to remember the importance of moving on. The core of ice deep inside his chest kept him from whispering to her how much she meant to him. The remoteness bred into him by years of living on the edge of death hadn’t yet been overcome; perhaps it never would be. It was still vital to him to keep some small significant part of himself sealed away, aloof and cold. Still, he couldn’t let her draw away from him with that carefully blank expression on her face. She was his, and it was time she came to terms with the fact.

  Putting his hands on her thighs, he spread them apart and mounted her. Jane caught her breath, her hands going up to grab at his back. He slowly pushed into her, filling her with a powerful movement that had her body arching on the blanket.

  He went deep inside her, holding her tightly to him. Her inner tightness made him almost groan aloud as wild shivers of pleasure ran up his spine. Shoving his hand into her hair, he turned her head until her mouth was under his, then kissed her with a violence that only hinted at the inferno inside him. She responded to him immediately. Her mouth molded to his and her body rose to meet his thrusts in increasingly ecstatic undulations. He wanted to immerse himself in her, go deeper and deeper until they were bonded together, their flesh fused. He held her beneath him, their bodies locked together in total intimacy. He reveled in the waves of intensifying pleasure that made them clutch at each other, straining together in an effort to reach the peak of their passion. When he was inside her, he no longer felt the need to isolate himself. She was taking a part of him that he hadn’t meant to offer, but he couldn’t stop it. It was as if he’d gotten on a roller coaster and there was no way to get off until it reached the end of the line. He’d just have to go along for the ride, and he meant to wring every moment of pleasure he could from the short time that he had her all to himself.

  Jane clung to his shoulders, driven out of her senses by the pounding of his body. He seemed to have lost all control; he was wild, almost violent, his flesh so heated that his skin burned her palms. She was caught up in the depth of his passion, writhing against him and begging for more. Then, abruptly, her pleasure crested, and he ground his mouth against hers to catch her mindless cries. Her hot flare of ecstasy caught him in its explosion, and he began shuddering as the final shock waves jolted through his body. Now it was she who held him, and when it was over he collapsed on her, his eyes closed and his chest heaving, his body glistening with sweat.

  Her fingers gently touched the shaggy, dark gold threads of his hair, pushing them away from his forehead. She didn’t know what had triggered his sudden, violent possession, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was that, despite everything, he needed her in a basic way that he didn’t welcome, but couldn’t deny. That wasn’t what she wanted, but it was a start. Slowly she trailed her hand down his back, feeling the powerful muscles that lay under his supple bronzed skin. The muscles twitched then relaxed under her touch, and he grew heavier as the tension left him.

  “Now we really have to go,” he murmured against her breast.

  “Ummm.” She didn’t want to stir; her limbs were heavy, totally relaxed. She could happily have lain there for the rest of the day, dozing with him and waking to make love again. She knew that the peace wouldn’t last; in a moment he stirred and eased their bodies apart.

  They dressed in silence, except for the rustling of their clothing, until she began lacing her boots on her feet. He reached out and tilted her chin then, his thumb rubbing over her bottom lip. “Promise me,” he demanded, making her look at him. “Tell me that you’re going to do what I say, without an argument. Don’t make me tie you up.”

  Was he asking for obedience, or trust? Jane hesitated, then went with her instincts. “All right,” she whispered. “I promise.”

  His pupils dilated, and his thumb probed at the corner of her lips. “I’ll take care of you,” he said, and it was more than a promise.

  They took down the tent; then Jane got out the meager supply of remaining food. She emptied the last of the Perrier into his canteen, disposed of the bottles, and broke in two the granola bar that she’d been saving. That and a small can of grapefruit was their breakfast, and the last of their food.

  The morning was almost gone, and the heat and humidity had risen to almost unbearable levels, when Grant stopped and looked around. He wiped his forehead on his sleeve. “We’re almost even with the village. Stay here, and I’ll be back in an hour or so.”

  “How long is ‘or so’?” she asked politely, but the sound of her teeth snapping together made him grin.

  “Until I get back.” He took the pistol out of its holster and extended it to her. “I take it you know how to use this, too?”

  Jane took the weapon from his hand, a grim expression on her mouth. “Yes. After I was kidnapped, Dad insisted that I learn how to protect myself. That included a course in firearms, as well as self-defense classes.” Her slim hand handled the gun with respect, and reluctant expertise. “I’ve never seen one quite like this. What is it?”

  “A Bren 10 millimeter,” he grunted.

  Her eyebrows lifted. “Isn’t it still considered experimental?”

  He shrugged. “By some people. I’ve used it for a while; it does what I want.” He watched her for a moment, then a frown drew his brows together. “Could you use it, if you had to?”

  “I don’t know.” A smile wobbled on her mouth. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

  He touched her hair, hoping fervently that she never had to find the answer to his question. He didn’t want anything ever to dim the gaiety of her smile. Bending, he kissed her roughly, thoroughly, then without a word blended into the forest in that silent, unnerving way of his. Jane stared at the gun in her hand for a long moment, then walked over to a fallen tree and carefully inspected it for animal life before sitting down.

  She couldn’t relax. Her nerves were jumpy, and though she didn’t jerk around at every raucous bird call or chattering monkey, or even the alarming rustles in the underbrush, her senses were acutely, painfully attuned to the noises. She had become used to having Grant close by, his mere presence making her feel protected. Without him, she felt vulnerable and more alone than she had ever felt before.

  Fear ate at her, but it was fear for Grant, not herself. She had walked into this with her eyes open, accepting the danger as the price to be paid, but Grant was involved solely because of her. If anything happened to him, she knew she wouldn’t be able to bear it, and she was afraid. How could he expect to walk calmly into a small village and not be noticed? Everything about him drew attention, from his stature to his shaggy blond hair and those wild, golden eyes. She knew how single-mindedly Turego would search for her, and since Grant had been seen with her, his life was on the line now just as mu
ch as hers.

  By now Turego must know that she had the microfilm. He’d be both furious and desperate; furious because she’d played him for a fool, and desperate because she could destroy his government career. Jane twisted her fingers together, her dark eyes intent. She thought of destroying the microfilm, to ensure that it would never fall into the hands of Turego or any hostile group or government—but she didn’t know what was on it, only that it was supremely important. She didn’t want to destroy information that her own country might need. Not only that, but she might need it as a negotiating tool. George had taught her well, steeped her in his cautious, quicksilver tactics, the tactics that had made him so shadowy that few people had known of his existence. If she had her back to the wall, she would use every advantage she had, do whatever she had to—but she hoped it wouldn’t come to that kind of desperation. The best scenario would be that Grant would be able to smuggle her out of the country. Once she was safe in the States, she’d make contact and turn the microfilm over to the people who should have it. Then she could concentrate on chasing Grant until he realized that he couldn’t live without her. The worst scenario she could imagine would be for something to happen to Grant. Everything in her shied away even from the thought.

  He’d been hurt too much already. He was a rough, hardened warrior, but he bore scars, invisible ones inside as well as the ones that scored his body. He’d retired, trying to pull himself away, but the wasteland mirrored in his eyes told her that he still lived partially in the shadows, where sunlight and warmth couldn’t penetrate.

  A fierce protectiveness welled up inside her. She was strong; she’d already lived through so much, overcome a childhood horror that could have crippled her emotionally. She hadn’t allowed that to clip her wings, had learned instead to soar even higher, reveling in her freedom. But she wasn’t strong enough to survive a world without Grant. She had to know that he was alive and well, or there would be no more sunshine for her. If anyone dared harm him…

  Perspiration curled the hair at her temples and trickled between her breasts. Sighing, she wondered how long she had been waiting. She wiped her face and twisted her hair into a knot on top of her head to relieve herself of its hot weight on the back of her neck. It was so hot! The air was steamy, lying on her skin like a wet, warm blanket, making it difficult to breathe. It had to rain soon; it was nearing the time of day when the storms usually came.

  She watched a line of ants for a time, then tried to amuse herself by counting the different types of birds that flitted and chirped in the leafy terraces above her head. The jungle teemed with life, and she’d come to learn that, with caution, it was safe to walk through it—not that she wanted to try it without Grant. The knowledge and the experience were his. But she was no longer certain that death awaited her behind every bush. The animal life that flourished in the green depths was generally shy, and skittered away from the approach of man. It was true that the most dangerous animal in the jungle was man himself.

  Well over an hour had passed, and a sense of unease was prickling her spine. She sat very still, her green and black clothing mingling well with the surrounding foliage, her senses alert.

  She saw nothing, heard nothing out of the ordinary, but the prickling sensation along her spine increased. Jane sat still for a moment longer, then gave in to the screaming of her instincts. Danger was near, very near. Slowly she moved, taking care not to rustle even a leaf, and crawled behind the shelter of the fallen tree’s roots. They were draped in vines and bushes that had sprung to life already, feeding off the death of the great plant. The heaviness of the pistol she held reminded her that Grant had had a reason for leaving it with her.

  A flash of movement caught her attention, but she turned only her eyes to study it. It was several long seconds before she saw it again, a bit of tanned skin and a green shape that was not plant or animal, but a cap. The man was moving slowly, cautiously, making little noise. He carried a rifle, and he was headed in the general direction of the village.

  Jane’s heart thudded in her breast. Grant could well meet him face to face, but Grant might be surprised, while this man, this guerrilla, was expecting to find him. Jane didn’t doubt that normally Grant would be the victor, but if he were overtaken from behind he could be shot before he had a chance to act.

  The distinctive beating of helicopter blades assaulted the air, still distant, but signaling the intensified search. Jane waited while the noise of the helicopter faded, hoping that its presence had alerted Grant. Surely it had; he was far too wary not to be on guard. For that, if nothing else, she was grateful for the presence of the helicopters.

  She had to find Grant before he came face to face with one of the guerrillas and before they found her. This lone man wouldn’t be the only one searching for her.

  She had learned a lot from Grant these past few days, absorbing the silent manner in which he walked, his instinctive use of the best shelter available. She slid into the jungle, moving slowly, keeping low, and always staying behind and to the side of the silent stalker. Terror fluttered in her chest, almost choking her, but she reminded herself that she had no choice.

  A thorny vine caught her hair, jerking it painfully, and tears sprang to her eyes as she bit her lip to stifle a reflexive cry of pain. Trembling, she freed her hair from the vine. Oh, God, where was Grant? Had he been caught already?

  Her knees trembled so badly that she could no longer walk at a crouch. She sank to her hands and knees and began crawling, as Grant had taught her, keeping the thickest foliage between herself and the man, awkwardly clutching the pistol in her hand as she moved.

  Thunder rumbled in the distance, signaling the approach of the daily rains. She both dreaded and prayed for the rain. It would drown out all sound and reduce visibility to a few feet, increasing her chances for escape—but it would also make it almost impossible for Grant to find her.

  A faint crackle in the brush behind her alerted her, but she whirled a split second too late. Before she could bring the pistol around, the man was upon her, knocking the gun from her grip and twisting her arm up behind her, then pushing her face into the ground. She gasped, her breath almost cut off by the pressure of his knee on her back. The moist, decaying vegetation that littered the forest floor was ground into her mouth. Twisting her head to one side, Jane spat out the dirt. She tried to wrench her arm free; he cursed and twisted her arm higher behind her back, wringing an involuntary cry of pain from her.

  Someone shouted in the distance, and the man answered, but Jane’s ears were roaring and she couldn’t understand what they said. Then he roughly searched her, slapping his free hand over her body and making her face turn red with fury. When he was satisfied that she carried no other weapons, he released her arm and flipped her onto her back.

  She started to surge to her feet, but he swung his rifle around so close that the long, glinting barrel was only a few inches from her face. She glanced at it, then lifted her eyes to glare at her captor. Perhaps she could catch him off guard. “Who are you?” she demanded in a good imitation of a furious, insulted woman, and swatted the barrel away as if it were an insect. His flat, dark eyes briefly registered surprise, then wariness. Jane scrambled to her feet and thrust her face up close to his, letting him see her narrowed, angry eyes. Using all the Spanish she knew, she proceeded to tell him what she thought of him. For good measure she added all the ethnic invective she’d learned in college, silently wondering at the meaning of everything she was calling the soldier, who looked more stunned by the moment.

  She poked him repeatedly in the chest with her finger, advancing toward him, and he actually fell back a few paces. Then the other soldier, the one she’d spotted before, joined them, and the man pulled himself together.

  “Be quiet!” he shouted.

  “I won’t be quiet!” Jane shouted in return, but the other soldier grabbed her arms and tied her wrists. Incensed, Jane kicked out behind her, catching him on the shin with her boot. He gave a startled cry of
pain, then whirled her around and drew his fist back, but at the last moment stayed his blow. Turego probably had given orders that she wasn’t to be hurt, at least until he’d gotten the information he wanted from her.

  Shaking her tangled hair away from her eyes, Jane glared at her captors. “What do you want? Who are you?”

  They ignored her, and pushed her roughly ahead of them. With her arms tied behind her, her balance was off, and she stumbled over a tangled vine. She couldn’t catch herself, and pitched forward with a small cry. Instinctively one of the soldiers grabbed for her. Trying to make it look accidental, she flung out one of her legs and tangled it through his, sending him crashing into a bush. She landed with a jolt on a knotted root, which momentarily stunned her and made her ears ring.

  He came out of nowhere. One moment he wasn’t there; the next he was in the midst of them. Three quick blows with the side of his hand to the first soldier’s face and neck had the man crumpling like a broken doll. The soldier who Jane had tripped yelled and tried to swing his rifle around, but Grant lashed out with his boot, catching the man on the chin. There was a sickening thud; the man’s head jerked back, and he went limp.

  Grant wasn’t even breathing hard, but his face was set and coldly furious as he hauled Jane to her feet and roughly turned her around. His knife sliced easily through the bonds around her wrists. “Why didn’t you stay where I left you?” he grated. “If I hadn’t heard you yelling—”

  She didn’t want to think about that. “I did stay,” she protested. “Until those two almost walked over me. I was trying to hide, and to find you before you ran straight into them!”

  He gave her an impatient glance. “I would’ve handled them.” He grabbed her wrist and began dragging her after him. Jane started to defend herself, then sighed. Since he so obviously had handled them, what could she say? She concentrated instead on keeping her feet under her and dodging the limbs and thorny vines that swung at her.